Self inking hand stamp with rupturable ink cartridge means

ABSTRACT

THIS INVENTION PROVIDES A HAND STAMP IMPRINTING DEVICE OF THE GENERAL CLASS COMPRISING A HAND MANIPULATABLE BLOCK-LIKE BODY HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FORWARD-SIDE ONTO WHICH IS ATTACHED AT LEAST ONE LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING INKABLE INDICIA STRIP. THE BLOCK-LIKE BODY IS INTERNALLY PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE CLOSEABLE CAVITY ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THEREIN A CARTRIDGE SUPPLY OF INK WHICH IS PERMANENTLY RUPTURABLE IN SITU WHEREBY INK WILL FLOW FROM THE CAVITY THROUGH SUITABLE CONDUIT MEANS TO THE INKABLE INDICIA STRIP AT THE IMPRINTING DEVICE FORWARD EXTREMITY.

March 23, 1971 v. P. GRONAU SELF -INKING HAND STAMP WITH-RUPTURABLE INK CARTRIDGE MEANS Filed Nov. 6, 1969 VIC TOR P. GRONAU mvzsm'on BY M K W ATTOR N EY United States Patent 3,572,243 SELF HNKING HAND STAMP WITH RUPTURABLE INK CARTRIDGE MEANS Victor P. Gronau, R0. Box 276, Battle Creek, Nebr. 68715 Filed Nov. 6, 1969, Ser. No. 870,558 Int. Cl. B41k 1/52 US. Cl. 101-327 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DKSCLOSURE This invention provides a hand stamp imprinting device of the general class comprising a hand manipulatable block-like body having a longitudinally extending forward-side onto which is attached at least one longitudinally extending inkable indicia strip. The block-like body is internally provided with at least one closeable cavity adapted to receive therein a cartridge supply of ink which is permanently rupturable in situ whereby ink will flow from the cavity through suitable conduit means to the inkable indicia strip at the imprinting device forward extremity.

Hand stamp imprinting devices, sometimes generically referred to as rubber stamps, generally comprise a hand manipulatable block-like body having a longitudinally extending forward-side onto which is attached one or more longitudinally extending inkable indicia strips, said strips carrying relief indicia thereon. Traditionally, ink is supplied to the several indicia strips from an external ink pad source. Such prior art devices have two noteworthy limitations. First, there is the ink duration limitation, it being necessary to re-ink the indicia strips after every four or five impressions by the imprinting device. Second, there is a uni-color limitation, the only color impression possible from all indicia being that of the ink pad supply.

Relatively recent workers in the prior art have developed hand stamp imprinting devices with a self-contained ink supply positioned within the indicia strips, forwardly of the block member forward-side in an effort to solve the ink duration and uni-color limitations. Certain of said permanently inked indicia strips are microporous, which requires ink regeneration time to allow ink to fiow into the indicia after each inked impression is made, and for this reason, the number of ink impressions per unit time is limited. Other permanently inked indicia strips are macro-porous," which requires less ink regeneration time, but such macro-porous indicia strips are not readily re-chargeable with ink, and their useful life is limited by the original supplied ink supply. Admittedly, but within the aforesaid limitations, such macro-porous and micro-porous indicia strips permeated with arbitrarily selected ink colors will provide multi-color imprintability.

It is accordingly the general object of this invention to provide a hand stamp imprinting device having the alternate capabilities of uni-color and multi-color impressions, and having a self-contained ink reservoir that quickly resupplies the indicia after each stamped impression therefrom, and that can be repeatedly recharged with fresh supplies of ink by the typical hand stamp user whereby the imprinting device has an unusually long useable life.

With the said general objective in view, and other related objects which will become more apparent as this description proceeds, the hand stamp imprinting device of the present invention comprises, in addition to the prior art general environment of a block member with manual engagement means at the rearward-side thereof and with at least one elongate strip of inkable indicia at the block forward-side, an internal cavitate portion for the block member adapted to receive therein a permanently rupturable container having fluid ink therein, and further comprises conduit means extending from the block internal cavity to an inkable indicia strip whereby in situ permanent rupture of the so containerized ink will allow said ink to fiow as needed from the block cavity to the indicia strip. Novel ink containers, rupture means therefor, upright handle configuration, and block cavity positioning, will afford reliably controlled ink flow, and multi-color imprinting capabilities when a plurality of indicia strips are employed.

In the drawing, wherein like characters refer to like parts in the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hand stamp imprinting device made according to the novel teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the rupturable container component having a supply of fluid ink thereon.

The hand stamp imprinting device S of the present invention generally comprises a block member 10 having a forward-side 11 and a rearward-side 12; manual engagement means attached to block member 10 and disposed nearer to block rearward-side 12 than to forward-side 11, said manual engagement means herein comprising an upright handle disposed along a vertical axis 91 and extending upwardly rearwardly from block rearward-side :12; and at least one longitudinally-extending strip of inkable relief indicia attached to block 10 and providing the forward imprinting extremity for hand stamp S, herein two such indicia strips 21 and 31, being arbitrarily employed.

Block member 10 is herein of generally rectangular shape having an external contour which includes six main surfaces including the rearward-side 12, the forward-side 11, a first upright endward terminus 13, a second upright endward terminus 14, a first lateral-side 15, and a second lateral-side 16. Each of the one or more longitudinally-extending indicia strips, e.g. 21 and 31, is customarily positioned in parallelism along a horizontal longitudinal axis 17 for block forward-side 11. Thus, block forward-side 11, as well as lateral-sides 1516, each extends between the upright endward terminii 14-13 to define the longitudinal length for block member 10. The inkable strips 21 and 31, with forwardly extending raised indicia ED and LEE, respectively, each extend longitudinally between block terminii 1443.

Fluid ink is flowable to the several inkable indicia strips, e.g. 21 and 31, from internal cavitate portions, e.g. 25 and 35, of block member 10. Each internal cavity of block 10 is positioned a finite distance rearwardly upwardly of an indicia strip and of block forward-side 11 whereby there is a block forward-wall portion disposed between each internal cavity and the block forward-side 11. For example, there is a block forward-wall portion 23 between cavity 25 and indicia strip 21, and another block forawrd-wall portion 33 between cavity 35 and indicia strip 31. As is well known in the prior art, each of the indicia strips can be attached to block forward-wall 11 as with a suitable adhesive material chosen empiraclly to be chemically resistant to the ink to be employed; herein, adhesive layers 22 and 32 are utilized to attach indicia strips 21 and 31, respectively.

There are conduit means extending from a block member cavity through its immediately adjacent forward-wall portion to allow fluid ink to flow from the block cavity to the forward extremity of the inkable indicia strip. Such conduit means herein includes a plurality of vertical regularly incremently spaced perforations (series 24 or series 34) extending downwardly forwardly to at least block forward-wall 11, and herein forwardly beyond, through adhesive layers 22 and 32, respectviely, to the rearward side of indicia strips 21 and 31. If the indicia strips be nonporous to the liquid ink employed, extensions of holes 24 and 34 through indicia strips 21 and 31 would be appropriate to allow ink to be brought to the forward imprinting side. However, with the macro-porous ink-porous indicia strips 21 and 31 herein, ink introduced to the strips rearward side will ultimately flow downwardly therethrough to the forward imprinting side. Since ink from cavity 25 can flow only to indicia strip 21, and ink from cavity 35 can flow only to indicia strip 31, it can be readily seen that if cavity 25 had a supply of ink therein difiering in visual color from the ink in cavity 35, indicia strip 21 would provide a different color imprint than would indicia strip 31.

The block cavities 25 and 35 commence at closeable openings 26 and 36, respectively, on the block external contour remote of forward-side 11, herein at openings 26 and 36 of block 10. The respective cavities 25 and 35 are of regular circular cross-sectional shape along the length thereof, said cavities extending longitudinally along the respective indicia strips 21 and 31 for the major longitudinal length 13-14 of block member 10. Preferably, for reasons to be explained later, the respective cavities 25 and 35 are inclined downwardly and forwardly from cavity openings 26 and 36 whereby the forward-wall portions 23 and 33 become progressively thinner as the cavities 25 and 35 approach block terminus 14. The respective cavities 25 and 35 are of substantially equal cross-sectional size and of coelevation along axis 91.

The vertical central axis 91 of block member is disposed medially of block endward terminii 13-14. There is an upright threaded bore 18 or block 10 surrounding axis 91, said bore 18 commencing at block rearward-side 12 and extending downwardly forwardly therefrom and terminating within the confines of cavities and 35. The preferred manual engagement means for hand stamp S comprises an upright handle 90 having a substantially flat lower forward end 92, said handle 90 being threadedly engaged with block 10 at 18 whereby handle lower end 92 is adapted to be disposed within cavities 25 and 35 having therein removable cylindrical ink cartridges 40B and 40R, respectively.

The fluid ink for inking the indicia strips 21 and 31 of imprinting device S is perferably supplied into imprinting device S in the form of permanently rupturable selfsustaining tubes, e.g. 40, containing fluid ink therein, as exemplified in FIG. 4. The containerized ink supply 40 simply comprises a cylindrical tubular container 41 made of an easily permanently rupturable self-sustaining nonbrittle material. It is essential that the self-sustaining container be non-brittle so that upon being ruptured it will remain in unitary form, so as to permit ultimate removal from a block cavity, e.g. 25, 35, and for this reason flexible resinous material such as polyethylenes are preferred. As indicated at 43 in FIG. 4, one or both of the container endwalls is scored or weakened to enhance rupturability of the containerized ink supply. The containerized ink supply, e.g. 40, 40R, 40B, in pre-ruptured intact form will occupy an internal cavitate portion, e.g. 25, 35, of block member 10. Cylindrical ink container 40B having black colored ink therein is loosely disposed along block cavity 25 while a similar container 40R having red colored ink therein is loosely disposed along block cavity 35.

Each of the cavity openings, e.g. 26, 36, is temporarily closeable for indefinite durations as by means of plugs 27 and 37, the said plugs having a leading end extendable into cavities 25 and 35, respectively. Plug 27 and 37 provide several functions for imprinting device S. First, they ensure that ink flow from a ruptured ink cylinder proceeds through the conduit means and not through cavity openings 26 and 36. Second, plugs 27 and 37 permit access into cavities 25 and 35 for removal of a spent ink cartridge and for the insertion of a fresh unruptured cartridge. Third, periodic brief removal of a plug from a cavity opening will provide an air vent means into a block cavity; however, handle extending downwardly into the block cavities can provide the same venting function. Fourth, there is necessarily means to permit permanent rupture of the containerized ink, e.g. 40, in situ within a block cavity to allow ink to flow therefrom to an indicia strip; as will be discussed in the immediately following paragraph, the closure plugs comprise the preferable such permanent rupture means.

Plugs 27 and 37 are herein threadedly engaged with cavities 25 and 35 at openings 26 and 36, respectively. Plugs 27 and 37 are each provided with an annular flanged outward terminus, and the remainder preponderant length of each plug comprises a relatively narrow threaded shoulder portion 28 and 38, respectively, which are extendable into the block cavities. The longitudinal length of cavities 25 and 35 exceed the longitudinal length of ink cartridges 40B and 40R by some differential-value; if the length of plug shoulder portion 28 or 38 exceed such differential value and if the ink cartridges be weakened as at 43, the pressure exerted by threadedly-engaged plugs would permanently rupture an ink cartridge in situ. Preferably, however, the permanent rupture means comprises a sharply tapered point, e.g. 29, 39, at the plug leading portion, e.g. 28, 39. With such sharpened point 29 or 39 on the cavity plugs, the cartridge structural weakening as at 43 is unnecessary.

Operation of the hand stamp imprinting device S has already been alluded to, but will be summarized as follows. Ink cartridge 40B in block cavity 25 will be arbitrarily selected for a black colored ink while ink cartridge 40R in block cavity 35 will be arbitrarily selected for a red colored ink therein; other ink color combinations can, of course, be arbitrarily selected. Plug 27 will be threadedly engaged with cavity 25 until its flange portion abuts block terminus 13 whereby tapered pin 28 permanently punctures the end of ink cartridge 40B; plug 27 can be given a couple of threaded turns away from cartridge 40B whereupon point 29 is fully withdrawn from cartridge 40B and black ink is fiowable from punctured cartridge 408 along inclined cavity 25 and through the series of perforations 24 to indicia strip 21. Similar puncture of ink cartridge 40R with plug 37 causes red ink to flow along inclined cavity 35 through the conduit means 34 to the forward surface of porous indicia strip 31. Handle 90, the lower end 92 of which is located within cavities 25 and 35, is manually grasped and the indicia strips 21 and 31 are pressed against paper or similarly ink receptive material whereupon the imprinted indicia ED (in black) and LEE (in red) result. If ink flow to indicia strip 21 or 31 should be temporarily interrupted, venting of cavities 25 and 35 through members 90, 26, or 36 should solve the problem. Desirably, the handle lower end 92 should be located at the ink cartridge, e.g. 40B, 40R, to give a squeeze upon said cartridges to ensure ink ejection therefrom as device S is manipulated through handle 90. Spent cartridges can be replaced through cavity openings 26 and 36. Spongy compressible foam pads 41 adhesively attached to the re spective four corners of block forward-side 11 serve to elevate indicia strips 21 and 31 above a storage surface so as to prevent interim ink flow through indicia strips 21 and 31 onto the shelf or other storage surface for device S.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the imprinting device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a hand stamp imprinting device of the class comprising a horizontally longitudinally extending block member having an external contour including a rearwardside and a longitudinal forward-side disposed along a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis, a manual engagement means attached to said block member and being disposed nearer to the block member rearward-side than to the forward-side thereof, and at least one longitudinally-extending strip of inkable indicia attached to the block forward'side whereby the said at least one indicia strip provides the forward imprinting extremity of the hand stamp imprinting device, the improvement comprising:

(A) At least one block cavity portion located internally of said block, said block internal cavity being positioned a finite distance rearwardly of the block forward-side whereby there is a block forward-wall portion disposed between each said internal cavity and the block forward-side, each said internal cavity commencing at a closeable opening on the block external contour remote of the forward-side thereof;

(B) Conduit means extending from a block member internal cavity through its adjacent forward-wall to said longitudinally extending indicia strip at the imprinting device forward extremity; and

(C) A self-sustaining tubular container enclosing therewithin a supply of colored fluid ink, said container being removably disposed within the block member cavity and being rupturable while remaining as a unitary self-sustaining container, and means to permit permanent rupture of said container in situ to allow ink to flow from the ruptured selfsustaining unitary container into the cavity through the conduit means to an indicia strip.

2. The hand stamp imprinting device of claim 1 wherein the block member forward-side extends substantially horizontally between two upright endward terminii for the block external side so as to define the longitudinal length of the block member; wherein the said at least one block cavity commences as a closeable opening located at a block endward terminus and extends longitiudinally for the major longitudinal length of the block member, a plug removably attached to the block endward terminus to temporarily securely close the cavity opening; and wherein the block member forward-wall is provided with a plurality of vertical perforations extending from the cavity to the indicia strip to provide the conduit means.

3. The hand stamp imprinting device of claim 2 wherein the block member has a vertical axis disposed medially of the block endward terminii, the said block member having a threaded upright bore commencing at the block rearward-side and extending downwardly forwardly therefrom along the said vertical axis, said vertical threaded bore having a forward extremity communicating with the block longitudinally extending cavity; and wherein the manual engagement means comprises an upright handle having a substantially flat lower forward end, said upright handle being threadedly engaged with the block vertical threaded bore whereby the handle fiat lower end is adapted to bear against the said at least one rupturable container of ink.

4. The hand stamp imprinting device of claim 3 wherein the tubular rupturable container is of hollow cylindrical form, the said container being provided of a flexible resinous material; and wherein the removable cavity plug has a leading end extending longitudinally into the block cavity portion and bearable against said cylindrical container of ink.

5-. The hand stamp imprinting device of claim 4 wherein the said block member internal cavity slopes forwardly and longitudinally from the cavity closeable opening; and wherein the plug is threadedly engaged with the block member at the cavity opening, said plug having a limited degree of entry into the cavity, said degree of entry exceeding the difference between the longitudinally extending lengths of the cavity and the cylindrical container of ink, said plug leading end comprising a sharp tapered point adapted to puncture the resinous cylindrical container when the plug is at its maximum degree of entry into the block cavity.

6. The hand stamp imprinting device of claim 5 wherein there is a plurality of mutually-isolated independent cavities located internally of said block member; wherein there is a plurality of substantially-parallel longitudinally-extending strips of inkable indicia attached to the block forward-side; wherein there is a conduit means extending from each mutually-isolated independent internal cavity through its immediately adjacent forwardwall to a single inkable indicia strip whereby fluid ink is adapted to flow from a given internal cavity to a single inkable indicia strip.

7. The hand stamp imprinting device of claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of mutually-isolated independent cavities located internally of said block member; wherein there is a plurality of substantially-parallel longitudinal- ]y-extending strips of macro-porous inkable indicia attached to the block forward-side; wherein there is a multi-perforate conduit means extending from each mutually-isolated independent internal cavity through its immediately adjacent forward-wall to a single inkable indicia strip whereby fluid ink is adapted to flow from a given internal cavity to a single inkable indicia strip.

8. The hand stamp imprinting device of claim 7 wherein the block member forward side extends substantially horizontally between two upright endward terminii for the block external side so as to define the longitudinal length of the block member; wherein the block member has a vertical axis disposed medially of the block endward terminii, the said block member having a threaded bore commencing at the block rearward-side and extending downwardly forwardly therefrom along the said vertical axis, said vertical threaded bore intersecting each said block cavity; wherein each of said block internal cavities commences at a block endward terminus and extends longitudinally for the major length of the block member, the several block cavities being of similar and regular cross-sectional size along the cavity length and being of substantially co-elevation, each longitudinally extending cavity being provided with a removable closure at an endward terminus of the block; wherein the color of ink carried within one of said rupturable containers differs from that of the ink carried within the remaining rupturable tubular containers; and wherein the manual engagement means comprises an upright threaded handle having a substantially flat lower forward end, said handle being threadedly engaged with the block vertical threaded bore whereby the handle forward end is adapted to bear against the several longitudinally extending tubular containers in ink.

9. In a hand stamp imprinting device of the class comprising a longitudinally horizontally-extending block member having an external contour including a rear ward-side, a forward-side disposed along a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis, a manual engagement means attached to said block member and being disposed nearer to the block rearward-side than to the forwardside thereof, and a plurality of substantially-parallel longitudinally-extending strips of inkable indicia attached to the block forward-side whereby the said indicia strips provide the forward imprinting extremity of the hand stamp imprinting device, the improvement comprising:

(A) A plurality of mutually-isolated independent cavities located internally of said block, each said internal cavity being positioned a finite distance rearwardly of the block forward-side whereby there is l a block forward-wall portion disposed between each internal cavity and the block forward-side, each internal cavity commencing at a closeable opening on the block external contour remote of the forwardside thereof whereby ink can be supplied into each closeable block cavity; and (B) Conduit means extending from the each mutually-isolated independent internal cavity through its adjacent forward-wall to a single inkable indicia strip whereby fluid ink is adapted to flow from a given internal cavity to a single inkable indicia strip. 10. The hand stamp imprinting device of claim 9 wherein the block member forward-side extends between two upright endward terminii for the block external side so as to define the longitudinal length of the block member; wherein the block member has a vertical axis disposed medially of the block endward terminii, the said block member having a threaded bore commencing at the block rearward-side and extending downwardly forwardly therefrom along the said vertical axis, said vertical threaded bore having a forward extremity positioned rearwardly of the forward extremity communicating with each said block cavity; wherein each of said block internal cavities commences at the block endward terminus and extends longitudinally for the major longitudinal length of the block member including into the block vertical threaded bore, the several block cavities being of similar cross-sectional size and being of substantially co-elevation with respect to the block forwardside, each longitudinally extending cavity being provided with a removeable closure at an endward terminus of the block; wherein there is a self-sustaining rupturable tubular container of ink removable longitudinally disposed within each said block cavity the several tubular rupturable containers being of substantially similar crosssectional size and being of substantially co-elevation along the block vertical threaded bore, the color of ink carried within one of said rupturable containers differing visually from that of the ink carried within the remaining rupturable tubular containers whereby the multi-color imprinting with said inkable indicia strips is afforded; and wherein the manual engagement means comprises an upright threaded handle having a fiat lower forward end, said handle being threadedly engaged with the block vertical threaded bore whereby the handle flat lower end is adapted to bear against the several co-elevation tubular containers of ink.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 273,149 2/1883 Purvis 101327 2,642,065 6/1953 Negri 401134X 3,234,918 2/1966 Gigli 401-134 3,335,660 8/1967 Vosburg 101--125 3,485,562 12/1969 Hidden et al 401134 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner E. M. COVEN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 101-125 

